Electrical glass splitting machine



Oct. 14, 1941. J. F. TURKE ELECTRICAL GLASS SPLITTING MACHINE Filed April 19, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR v JOSEPH T/RKE BY M ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. F. TURKE Filed A ril 19, 1959 ELECTRICAL GLASS SPLITTING MACHINE Oct. 14, 1941.

Patented Oct. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V V 2,258,652 I ELECTRICAL G Ass -sPLIrTiNG MAoniNn .lo sephF. Turke, Collins, N. Y. Application Abril 19, 1939, Serial N6. 268,792 3 Claims. 40149-50) The present invention relates to apparatus for severing glass, and has particular relation to apparatus of the kind wherein an electrical heating element is employed upon the surface of a sheet of glass or other article of glass or similar mait may be conveniently and easily moved upon the surface of the material to be severed, being guided either by the hand of an operator or moved by the latter in guided relation along a straight or curved edge guiding element.

These and other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of the typical embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of the device;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken approximately upon line 3-3 of Fig, 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a side elevational view and a plan view of another form of the device;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken along line 66 of Fig. 5, and,

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

The device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 includes a handle II which may comprise two sections I2 and 13 of any suitable material, secured together by bolts l4. The sections have recesses l1 formed therein for receiving in their forward portions sleeves I5 composed of mica or other suitable insulating material, flanges E6 on the sleeves engaging in widened portions of the recesses to prevent displacement of the sleeves after the handle sections have been secured together.

Metallic, electrically conductive sleeves 18 are telescoped within insulating sleeves l5 and are provided with flanges l9, disposed beside flanges l6, likewise for preventing displacement. Engaged within the inner ends of sleeve I8 are electrical contacts, in the form of plugs 2 I, connected to electrical conductor wires 22 which extend through the rearward portions of recesses I1 and lead to a suitable source of electrical energy.

Telescoped within and frictionally engaging the forward ends of sleeves I8 are metallic, electrically conductive tubes 23 which receive coils 24 and 25 of electrical resistance wires, the forward ends of the coils being integrally connected by a substantially straight length 26 of the wire.

The forward portion 2! of coil 25 has a slight curvature of substantially S shape, the degree of curvature being adjustable by sliding one or the other of the tubes 23 in or out of the sleeves IS.

A resilient clamp 23 of substantially U shape detachably engages over the handle I l and carries a screw threaded projection 29. A guide member 3| pivotally secured upon the projection by a nut 32, a relatively stilt coil spring 33 or spring washer being disposed on the projection between the guide member and clamp 28.

In operation the wires 22 are connected to a source of electrical energy so that an electric current flows through the resistance wire 24, 2 5,

26 causing the latter to become highly heated. The device may be held by the handle I -l preferably in inclined relation to thesurface S of the glass or other article to be severed as indicated in Fig. 2, and moved to slowly draw the portion 2! of the heated wire over the surface, along the desired line of severance. A split in the article will develop and will follow along slightly behind the portion of the heated wire that is in contact with the article.

Accordingly, the article may be cut along any desired straight or curved line. In order to aid the operator in conforming the split to any desired straight or curved line, a straight or curved edged guide may be laid upon the article in slightly spaced relation to the desired line of split, and the end of member 3| engaged thereagainst. As the device is then drawn along, with member 3| Sliding along the straight or curved edged guide and the wire portion 21 in contact with the article to be severed, a splitting of the latter along the desired line will result. Member 3| may be adjusted angularly about the axis of projection in order to adjust it to different guiding edges or devices.

It will be understood that if an article to be split is marked along the desired line of severance and the operator is able to follow such line without a guide, or if accuracy is unnecessary, the unit including clamp 28 and member 31 may be removed for such operation.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 to '7 inclusive, there is a forked handle 4|, preferably formed of two sections, 42 and 43 joined together by fasteners 44 and having wire receiving channels 45 formed therein. The fork ends 46 have bearing openings 41 receiving metallic pintles 48 on whose inner ends are metallic cups 49. The latter are screw threaded upon tubular members 5| which are secured in spaced relation to each other upon the ends of hollow cylinder 52 of insulating material.

Upon the central part of the cylinder is a perforated wheel 53 comprising two discs 54 of insulating material secured together by fasteners 55. Annular recesses are formed in the inner faces of the discs, adjacent their peripheries, for receiving a coiled wire resistance element 56 which extends almost completely around the wheel. One end of the wire is secured to a fastener 51 while the other end, only slightly spaced from the first end, is secured to a fastenere 58. A metallic strip 59 electrically connects each of fasteners 51 and 58 to one of the metallic hub members 6|, one of the latter being in contact with each cup 49.

Spring contact fingers 62, one joined to each fork 46 by a fastener 63, press against the outer ends of pintles 4B, and are in electrical circuit with a suitable source of electrical energy, through wires 64 which are connected to fasteners 63 and extend through the channels 45 in the handle.

In operation the wire 56 is heated by an electric current which passes from one contact to the other finger 62 via pintles 41, cups 49, hubs 6|, metallic strips 59 and fasteners and 58. When the wire is highly heated the device is drawn over an article to be severed, the wheel 53 rolling upon the surface of the article. Severance of the latter will occur in substantially the same manner as described in connection with the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

A guide device like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, including spring clamp 28 and guide member 3|, is indicated by broken lines in Figs. 4 and 5 as applied to handle 4|, and it will be understood that the apparatus may be used either with or without such device.

It will be further understood that the apparatus herein shown and described is merely illustrative of the inventive principle involved, which inventive principle may be otherwise embodied without departing from thee spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for severing glass and the like, a wheel of insulating material, an electrical resistance element supported by the wheel and extending around the periphery thereof for rolling contact with the surface of the material to be severed, a handle unit and means mounting the wheel for rotation relative to the handle.

2. In a device for severing glass and the like, a wheel of insulating material, an electrical resistance element supported by the wheel and extending around the periphery thereof for rolling contact with the surface of the material to be severed, a handle unit and means mounting the Wheel for rotation relative to said unit, electrical conducting wires connected to said unit, and means for conducting electricity from said wires to the resistance element.

3. In a device for severing glass and the like, a handle having a forked end, an insulating wheel mounted for rotation between the forks of the handle and having electrically conductive pintles extending through the forks and insulated from each other, contacts on said handle engaging the ends of the pintles, an electrical resistance element extending about the periphery of the Wheel for rolling contact with the surface of the material to be severed, and electrical conductor means extending between the resistance element and said pintles.

JOSEPH F. TURKE. 

